Thursday, July 20, 2006

The Hemingway Challenge

Shamash Says... : "The Hemingway Challenge"

“Earnest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. The result: ‘For sale: baby shoes, never used.’ Rumor has it that Hemingway regarded it as his greatest work. Stirred by this masterwork, the editors of BlackBook asked 25 of today’s most renowned writers to offer their own original six-word stories.” – p. 92

Here are my favorites:

“Forgive me!” “What for?” “Never mind.” – John Updike

Eyeballed me, killed him. Slight exaggeration.-- Irvine Welsh

Satan- Jehovah- fifteen rounds. A draw. – Norman Mailer

I saw. I conquered. Couldn’t come. - David Lodge

Oh, that? It’s nothing. Not contagious.- Augusten Burroughs

She gave. He took. He forgot – Tobias Wolff.

So, I give you the Hemingway Challenge. Write a story in six words. Here’s mine:

23 comments:

Nithya said...

Why six?

Why not?

Because

Stop!

Anonymous said...

Good one Nithya! I am stumped.

அருண் said...

I thought she loved me! "who?"

My best attempt

Nithya said...

She came. She kissed. I blushed.

This is fun but most of the times six words (sentences, Bala?!) seem too few.

Nithya said...

Another one...

Wife calls husband. Phone with mistress.

அருண் said...

if i may.....

what is the intention of a six word story?
it must trigger imagination....and we must see the whole picture from these words right?

Boston Bala said...

----I thought she loved me! "who?"---

This stands out due to couple of reasons...

* The ambiguity expressed by who is the asking the question 'who'

* Love has so many meanings like lust, unadulterated fondness, sisterly affection, which all plays well

Boston Bala said...

----She came. She kissed. I blushed.----

good one; but as it happens with all good things, here is my ulta-pulta naivety:

I saw. She kissed. I killed. :-)

Boston Bala said...

----Wife calls husband. Phone with mistress.---

Pager vibrates. Wife construes work. Mistress.

Boston Bala said...

-----what is the intention of a six word story---

Just SMS. It's Free. Blogs Blocked. ;-)

Priya said...

I stared;
He sensed;
loved

Nithya said...

/I saw. She kissed. I killed./

Bala, I like yours better than mine. You have made a good one better.

அருண் said...

thanks for the comment bala!
that was a good post.

Boston Bala said...

Thanks for sharing a neat on Priya

Priya said...

Bala,

Forgot to add "me" in that last line.

Kingsley Joseph said...

story in six. sex in five :)

Anonymous said...

Villain kills narrator. Villain no more.

Ravages/CC said...

1) Never was a writer so constrained.

2) Reductio ad absurdum. It works wonders.

3) A story you ask? Won't tell!

4) He said 'I just don't care'

Anonymous said...

Spellbinding story, life-affirming if time permits.

ammani said...

"Don't worry. He won't bite."

:)

(5 words, okay?)

Anonymous said...

One hurt. One confused. Both unheard.

Anonymous said...

"Trrrring" Limpy ran; For her life!

Boston Bala said...

2x3x7: Half a dozen